Perhaps because I see the world so often in black and white that the sequence of this week’s Torah portions speaks to me as a powerful instruction for life.

 

Let me set the stage; in short, this week we read two Torah portions, the final two of the book of Shmos/Exodus.  The first is called Vayakhel which means to gather but gives the detail of the construction of the Mishkan (the RV Synagogue – Credits Rabbi Rose) and Pekudai which means to count brings together the totals of all the donations.  The names of the portions and their content seem opposite.  And the names of the two portions themselves seem at odds with each other.

 

A powerful and applicable teaching of the Rebbe is this; we need both individuals and community.  But individuals need to know their uniqueness is of value when it contributes to the community.  And the community needs to know that it is only a community when it values its individuals.

 

I believe this lesson can be applied in other aspects of life starting with black and white thinking.  Black and white thinking lives in extremes; the individual is the only value, my uniqueness needs to be appreciated as it stands alone even if it never contributes to the community (capitalism gone rogue?).  Conversely or in another extreme view, the community is uber alles with no individualism (this is communist thinking?).

 

Or my sensitivities, my perspectives, my hurts, my world view, takes center stage regardless of how it shows up in the world around me or who it affects.

Conversely, suck it up, show up, no one needs to hear your struggles on the other side of the coin.

 

Pretty much in every aspect of life, marriage, relationships with children, relationship with G-d, work, play, etc. one can take extreme black and white thinking or we can learn to integrate.

 

Integration is Divine. That is because Hashem Himself shows up in the world not as extreme but as integrated.  We don’t see Divine revelation because G-d hides Himself.  And yet, we can touch the Divine, we can connect with Hashem because Hashem makes Himself available.

 

Extreme views and positions are also a very uncomfortable place to live.  Integration is so much more peaceful, because it is real and G-dly.

 

Best wishes for a peaceful integrated Shabbos!